A major part of proper lawn care and maintenance involves tending to your turf and making sure it’s as healthy and vibrant as possible. Of course, if your lawn is already in rough shape and has reached a point of no return, then a total overhaul might be necessary. Sodding is an excellent way of revitalizing the look and health of your grass, but it can be difficult if you don’t have a natural talent for or interest in gardening. For those of you who weren’t born with a green thumb, but are still interested in learning how to establish and maintain a beautiful, flourishing lawn, here are a few important tips for sodding.
Calculate How Much Sod Is Required
Laying down sod is a precise science and it can get pretty expensive, which is why it’s imperative to know exactly how many rolls or square inches of grass you need to cover any given plot of land on your property. Start by measuring the width and length of the area you intend to sod and then calculate the amount of sod need to cover that area. Make sure your calculations are as accurate as possible. Otherwise, you could end up with either too much or too little sod, which will ultimately delay the process.
Install a Good-Quality Irrigation System
Sod, like all other greenery, requires adequate watering in order to survive, so it’s important that you install a good-quality irrigation system that will sufficiently hydrate all of your plants. You can typically start watering your newly installed sod once it’s fully integrated with the top soil, but be sure to keep an eye out for pooling as this is often a sign of overwatering or uneven ground.
Prepare the Soil
There are a few key steps that need to be taken in order to prepare the soil prior to sod installation. First, you should test the pH balance of the soil to make sure that it’ll gel with the fresh sod. This could take a few weeks, so you should put off purchasing the sod until you get the results back. Then, you should till the soil. This loosens it up and makes it easier for your sod to develop strong roots that can integrate with your topsoil.
Level Out the Area
Sodding is a form of landscape maintenance that requires consistently flat terrain. You need to carefully and thoroughly level out the area where the sod is going to be installed and remove all stray branches, leaves, and debris beforehand with a rake. This will greatly reduce the chances of forming air pockets that result in uneven ground.
Lay and Roll Out the Sod
Whether you’re embarking on a full-on landscape construction project or simply removing and replacing certain parts of your lawn, you have to take special care when laying down sod. To make sure that the sod is being laid and rolled out in a straight and cohesive line, use the edge of your driveway or patio as a point of reference. Start from the outer edges and work your way in, and work on one roll of sod at a time. Make sure all of the pieces are perfectly aligned without any spaces in between or overlap.
Water the Lawn Immediately
Water your new lawn immediately after it’s been installed to keep it fresh and hydrated. This will also help it to develop strong roots so that it can easily integrate with the topsoil.
FOREVER GREEN LAWN & LANDSCAPE INC. offers premier lawn care and maintenance services, including sod installation and aftercare that’s guaranteed to give life back to your lawn and keep it fresh for years to come. For over 20 years, we’ve extended our services throughout Toronto and the GTA, so we have experience working with all kinds of terrain and climate conditions in Ontario. If you’re in need of expert landscape construction and maintenance, feel free to contact us to book a consultation!
